There are not too many shirts more iconic than the No 9 at Newcastle United and Eddie Howe might well be lucky enough to have multiple players queuing up for that particular honour next season.

Jackie Milburn, Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. The list could and probably should go on (and on).

Callum Wilson is the current No.9 at St James' Park, having initially worn No 13 following his transfer to the Magpies from Bournemouth in 2020, but the 32-year-old faces an unclear future.

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Wilson, whose quality is not in question, has totted-up just 57 minutes for Newcastle this season, while he remains on their treatment table with a hamstring injury. In his absence, Alexander Isak has gone goals galore.

Speculation over both frontmen is at fever pitch this month for different reasons, and it would not be beyond the question to expect at least one change in attacking quarters next summer. Wilson only has a few months to run on his contract, while Isak has naturally caught the eye at Europe's top table.

Unlike with Wilson, though, the club are in control with Isak, as he's tied down at St James' Park until 2028.

It would take a pretty penny for would-be suitors to sign him; while if Newcastle qualify for the Champions League next season, it would give them a significant advantage when it comes to keeping him at the club - and they might have another carrot to dangle.

Romantically speaking, if Wilson is to depart, there is no more befitting successor than Isak himself. He wears that particular shirt for Sweden already at international level, while the 25-year-old has proved time and time again he has all the goal-scoring attributes and aura to be a successful and worthy Newcastle No.9.

However, there is another potential candidate emerging, too.

Chronicle Live understands Newcastle have been on a scouting mission to run the rule over in-demand Lille striker Jonathan David and it looks for all the world like he will leave the French side as a free agent this summer. As such, key transfer figures across Europe are on red alert - with Newcastle firmly in that race.

With the world, seemingly, watching him on Tuesday night, David sent a clear message to would-be suitors with a goal against Liverpool - albeit in a losing cause - and it came before none other than the most famous No.9, Shearer, himself had spoken about what the Canada international is all about.

"I like a bit of everything [about David]," said Shearer while on Amazon Prime Video duty. "He doesn't mind coming short, he wants the ball to feet and you mentioned there his goal-scoring record. For the last few years he's got 20-plus in Ligue 1. [He's] Obviously a threat.

"Whether he's good enough, I think he has to go to another level if he's going to attract interest from the top-four in the Premier League. But where better to put himself in the shop window than at Anfield tonight, and up against on of the world's best centre-backs in [Virgil] Van Dijk?"

David managed exactly that with his 18th goal in 31 appearances this season. His overall record for Lille now reads 102 goals from 214 games - not to mention 25 assists thrown in for good measure - but to pick up the No.9 shirt at Newcastle he still needs to do one more thing.

"I think you've always got a point to prove, there's no doubt," the Newcastle icon added. "He'll know that bigger clubs are looking at him... but there's without doubt a talent in there. From last year to this year he's experienced, he's learnt a little more about the game, 25 years of age, so he's still, I think, got time on his side but he's about to come into the peak years of his career." If that is in the No.9 at Newcastle, David has a lot to live up to.